Method for tying carcasses



y 1970 s. GVKLIEWER ETAL 3,509,594

METHOD FOR 'IYING' CARCASSES Original FiledFeb. 21, 196? 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5 F I I3- 2 also/ea: 6. HEM-'1? y 1 7 e. e. K LIEWER ETAL 3,509,594

METHOD FOR'TYING GARCASSES Original Filed Feb. 21, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR$ F I E5- -4 JO/j/V roams ATTOkA/EVS May 5, 1970 G. uswan EITAL METHOD FOR TYING cARcAssEs Original Filed Feb. 21, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 il/J INVENTOR5 fifiifi f/e e F I E:-

iiiiiiiiiiii 164 I I Ml May 5, 1970 a. e; KLIEWER 3,509,594

A IETHOD FOR TYING CARCASSES Original Fil'ed m. 21, 196

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I [3- .1 4.1mm

ATTOINEK? May 5, 1970 av WE ET AL 3,509,594

METHOD FOR TYING GARCASSES Original Filed Feb. 21, 196'? 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR5 FIE -15.. W477v% United States Patent Ofl'ice 3,509,594 1 METHOD non TYING CARGASSES 1 George G. Kliewer and John H. Roberts, Fresno, Califgr.

assignors to Dun-Rite Manufacturing TCo rporat on,

Fresno, Calif., aecorporation of California, a

Original application Feb. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 617,643, now

Patent No. 3,474,489,. dated. Oct. 28,1969. Divided. I

and. this application May 19, 1969, SenNo. 825,713 1 Int. Cl. A22c 21/00 US. CI. 17-45 ABSTRACT OF THE :DISCLOSURE A method for tying. the. legs of evisceratecl animals,..i and particularly birds, to the bodies thereofwith an axialr 7 Claims.

lycontinuous thread.. In the method thelegsxof the animal are forced against its body and then. an axially contimr- 011s. thread is directed around the legs and body to form a loop which. performs the tyingtunction. To .iformthe loop, spaced. portions of the. thread are securedbtogether.

cerated animals, and particularly poultry. The invention 1 is especially concerned with a method ideally suited for i the handling of large volumes of birds in the commercial processing of poultry. It is also concerned with the provision of a tie which may be left in place 'When a bird is w distributed to theultimate consumer and, ifdesired, ema ployed by the ultimate :consumer when the bird is pro: pared for consumption by roasting or other cooking proc- In the prior art, various techniqueshave been em.- ployed for securing the legs .of evisceratedxbirds to the bodies thereof for packaging and/or cooking purposes. One of the most typicalof these techniques simply comprises forcing the distal: ends of the bird legs beneath a bar cut of skin at the rearmost portion oftliebird bofdy.

To facilitate this technique, during evisceration of the bird the bar cut is deliberately preserved. This preservation inherently renders cleaning of the bird difficult and, for this reason, it is subject to close scrutinization by the food and drug authorities. Employment of the bar cut for leg retention purposes also frequently presents problems in manipulating the legs into retained position.

Prior art techniques have also employed various mechanical contrivances to eliect retention of poultry legs. Certain of these employ leg engaging spring retention elements having portions designed for gripping engagement with the bone structure of the bird. Others employ wire segments designed for the formation of a loop around the body and legs of the birds. Both of these, however, have the disadvantage that the wire employed therein is difficult to remove and presents a safety hazard. Prior art techniques have also employed cords or threads to secure the legs of poultry in place. These techniques, however, have required considerable hand manipulation and, thus, have not been suited for the large volume commercial processing of poultry. Such techniques have typically been employed by housewives in preparing poultry for roasting.

The method of the present invention may be sumthe sequential operation of: i i hread throughzathe body 10f .tlliubll'd Patented May marized as comprising two stepspThe first of thesesteps comprisesdisposing the bird :;gainst a support a d ing its legs against its body;

(1 Passing .a,

f e: Theysecojnd step coir risejs...

laterally of one 1 of itsslegs so that 1 the leading end tof the v.1

is to the other side of the bird; Q a

(2.) Shuttling the leading, .end of thereof;

( 3) Passing the leading end of the, threadthrough the the body. and legs ofthebirdol. 3

with the prior art, astypified in the foregoing discussioni Another and more specificxobject of the inventionuis to provide a method suitablefforthe commercialproo essing of poultry which employs: a-continuous thread for leg retention purposes,

thread is :to one-sideg-of thebird and the: jtrailingltendj the thread 1 across. a the birdflto a p osition laterally "of theother.otathetlegsm body of thefbird laterally of thei other. leg so that the .1 leading and. 1 trailing ends of otherside oftheybird; 1 r i r (4). Securingtheleading andtrailingend or thethrejadw together under tension to .defineya loop extending around the thread are. bothton the A principalobject. of. thepr esentg invention is to provid l ,aw. method capable. 1a ofravoiding lithe problems associated with a continuousfthread applied by the methodgof the invention; a

FIG. 2 is an elevationalwview, with parts thereof i broken away for the sake of 1 simplicity, illustrating the preferred machine wemployed: for the practice ofkthefic method in conditionto receive abird to be tied;

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the machine illustrated a in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken on the plane designated by line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an elevational sectional view,

FIG. 8 is a schematic view diagrammatically illustrating the control circuit for the thread directing needles and the leg or hock depressing element;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the plane designated by th e 99 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a sectional elevational view corresponding to FIG. 9, but showing the thread shuttle after it has operated to carry the thread from one of the thread directing needles to the )ther;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the plane designated by the line 11-111 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a partial elevational view illustrating the thread directing needles in the condition they assume upon being retracted from the position shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on the plane designated by the line 13-13 in FIG. 10;

corresponding to FIG. 4, but with the thread directing needlesandleg or hock depressing element in the extended condition;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on the plane desigated by line 1414 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a partial plan sectional view illustrating the ross-over shuttle designed to effect crossing and tension- 1g of a loop formed by the machine in the condition it ssumes immediately upon retraction of the thread diecting needles from the extended condition illustrated 1 FIG. 5, with phantom lines graphically illustrating the am the thread would assume when first looped around he bird;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are partial plan sectional views, coresponding to FIG. 15, but showing the cross-over shutle in the intermediate and final positions, respectively, it ssumes when elfecting cross-over and tensioning;

FIG. 18 is a sectional elevational view taken on the Ilane designated by line 1848 in FIG. 17 and illustratng the structure immediately above the cross-over shutle;

FIG. 19 is a partial perspective view diagrammatically llustrating the interrelationship of the thread welding levice which effects securing of a thread loop after it has .ssumed the condition illustrated in FIG. 17; and

FIG. 20 is atime and motion chart diagrammatically llnstrating the motions of the various components of the machine in relation to the degree of rotation of the cam haft governing their operation.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine therein is lesignated in its entirety by the numeral '10. As a basic :omponent, the machine comprises a table 12 consistng of legs 14 interconnected by an upper working suport surface 16 and the lower equipment support surface L8. The surfaces 16 and 18, preferably, are fabricated of metal plate and rigidly connected to each of the legs 14. [he surface 16 is closed, with the exception of a centrally lisposed opening 20 (see FIG. '19). The opening 20 comirises an elongated central portion 22 having appendage iortions 24 and 26 communicating therewith. An anvil alate 28 is fixedly mounted in the portion 22 in substanially coplanar: relationship with the plate '16. The anvil )late, as can be seen from FIG. 19, has a centrally disiosed. annular groove 30 formed in the lower surface hereof. The appendage portions 26 of the opening 20 are designed, as will become more apparent subsequently, o slidably receive the thread directing needles of the nachine.

The equipment supporting surface 18 may be provided vith any number of suitable openings to facilitate the nounting of machine components thereto. This surface llSO includes an opening 32at one end thereof for exension of a pneumatic power cylinder 34 therethrough.

lhe cylinder 34 is of the double acting type and is mounted it an the surface 18 by a bracket 36. As thus mounted, the :ylinder 34 is disposed at approximately a 60 angle vith respect to the surfaces 16 and 18.

The cylinder 34 is of conventional double acting charicter and includes a piston rod 38 mounted for reciprozation therein. Selective reciprocation of the rod 38 is :ffected by selectively applying air to opposite ends of :he cylinder 34 through conduits 40 and 42 connected n fluid communication with the interior of the cylinder. Selective operation through the conduits 40 and 42 is affected by an electrically operated valve 44 interposed n fluid communication between the conduits and a coniuit (not illustrated) leading to a primary source of air. Selective activation of the valve 44 is controlled in timed sequence by one of a series of cam operated switches 46. The operation of the switches 46 will be developed in detail subsequently.

A cross head 48 is fixedly mounted on the distal end of the rod 38 for reciprocation therewith. The head 48, in :urn, has fixedly supported thereon in parallel relationship with the rod 38 a pair of thread directing needles 50 and 52. The needles 50 and 52 are disposed, respectively, in axial alignment with the portions 24 and 26, respectively, for slidable movement therethrough. Thus,

upon retraction and extension of the piston rod 38, the needles 50 and 52 are facilitated to move between the retracted and extended conditions, respectively, illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The construction of the needles 50 and 52 may be seen from FIGS. 12, 13 and 14. As there shown, the needle 50 has an axial passage 54 extending therethrough through which an axially continuous thread 56 may be extended. The passage 54 is axially open at its lower extremity for receipt of the thread 56 through the cross head 48 (see FIG. 2). A lateral opening 58 formed in the upper end of the needle 50 provides for withdrawal of thread from the passage 54.

In operation of the machine, as will be developed in detail subsequently, upon extension of the needles 50 and 52 to the condition illustrated in FIG. 5, the leading portion of the thread 56 is directed from the needle 50 into engagement with the needle 52. Engagement and retention of the leading portion of the thread thus directed to the needle 52 is provided by a slot 60 formed in the needle and a sleeve 62 slidably received on the needle. The sleeve 62 is slidably received on a neckeddown portion 64 of the needle 52 for movement between positions exposing and closing the slot 60, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, respectively. Movement of the sleeve '62 between the slot opening and closing positions is provided by the resistive force imparted to the sleeve as the needle 52 is retracted through a bird, as illustrated by the arrow line in FIG. 14. Return of the sleeve 62 to the retracted slot exposing position illustrated in FIG. 13 is provided by resistive and gravitational forces imparted to the sleeve as the needle 52 is extended to the extended condition illustrated in FIG. 5 from the retracted position shown in FIG. 4. During the latter movement, resistive force is imparted to the sleeve 62 by a resilient grommet 66 mounted in the portion 26 of the opening 20 for dragging engagement with the sleeve.

The support surface 16 has mounted thereon a mechanism, designated in its. entirety by the numeral 68, designed for operative cooperation with theneedles 50 and 52. The mechanism 68 comprises, as a fixed component, a rigid pedestal 70 fixedly secured to a rearmost portion of the surface 16. The pedestal 70 has formed thereon an inclined mounting surface 72 disposed in spaced parallel relationship with the plane defined by the needles 50 and 52. The surface 72 fixedly supports a pair of tubular guides 74 and the double acting hydraulic cylinder 76. Thecylinder 76 is of relatively conventional form and includes fluid conduits 78 and 80, respectively, communicating with the opposite ends thereof and a power transmitting piston rod 82 mounted for selective extension and retraction. The piston rod 82 is secured to a carriage 84 which, in turn, is mounted by guide rods 86 fixed thereto and slidably received within the tubular guides 74. Through the latter provision, the carriage 84 is mounted for rectilinear movement in a path parallel to the path of the needles 50 and 52.

The carriage 84 comprises, as can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, the following basic elements: a vertically disposed primary support plate 88 secured directly to the piston rod 82 and the guide rods 86; needle receiving stops 90 threadably received in sockets 92 fixed to the plate 88 in axial alignment with the needles 50 and 52; a secondary support plate 94 fixedly mounted in spaced parallel relationship with the primary plate 88 by spacer elements 96 secured between the respective plates, said secondary plate having openings 98 therein axially aligned with the needles 50 and 52 to permit their passage into the stops 90; a leg or hock depressing shoe 100 of generally concave lower configuration fixed to and extending laterally from the secondary plate 94, said shoe having an opening 102 formed therein to permit the free passage of the needles 50 and 52 therethrough into engagement with the stops 90; and, a carcass orienting plate 104.,slidably received between the 16.. The plate .104 has, elongated slotsv106 :extending therethrough for slidable receipt of: the spacer elements M 96 and. is formed withklateml flanges 108textending tow either side of the plate. 94.

A control system operatively couplingtthe cylinders34 and76 together is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 8. This system comprises, ,in additiomgto the aforede- This system comprises,.inmaddition to th aforedescribed conduits 40:. and-42=- and the controlledtairsupply there for, the. following elements: an oil reservoir 1110 nected in fluid communication with thewconduit 78;. a

pneumatically operated shutoff valve 112 interposed 19 the conduit 78; and, :a conduit 114 connected in fluid communication between the conduit 42and the valve .112 i to effect control of the valve responsive to the pressure condition in the conduit 42. .The valve 112 comprises, a

housing 116 having adumbbell shaped piston118 slida- .t

bly received therein and ,a spring, 120 disposed to normal-1 ly urge the piston 118 to a position sealingly interposed between the ends of the conduit 78. In. operation, when. the conduit 42 is subjected to pressure to depress the piston rod 38 and retract. the needles :SOWand 52,, the .1

pressure transmitted to the piston 118 throughthe con-1.

duit 114 moves the piston. to the position t illustratedt in FIG 8, thus permittingoil from the reservoir 110 to be displaced into the cylinder 76 to depress the carriage 84 and the needle engaging stops 90 secured thereto.

When pressure is relieved from the conduit 42 and.

applied to the conduit 40 to raise the needles 50 and 52, however, the spring 120 functions to bias the piston 118 to a position closing the conduit 78. In the latter position the piston 118, in effect, blocks the needle stops 90 against movement since it confines .incompressibleaoil within the cylinder 76. Thus, as will become more,

apparent subsequently, when the needles 50Yand 52 are forced upwardly against the stops 90, the stops are maintained in a fixed condition: I

The cylinder 76 is activated to effect extensionwof the rod 82 by supplying air to the reservoir 110 through a conduit 122. Retraction of the rod 82 is effected by supplying air to the cylinder 76 through the conduit 80..

The conduits 122 and80 are selectively supplied with air to effect activation of the cylinder 76 through means.

of an electrically controlled valve 126.. (seerFIG. 2) connected thereto. The valve 126 is similarto the aforedescribed valve 44 and is controlledin t med: sequence by one of the battery of, cam operated; :switchesvljfi.

Air is supplied to the V81V6u126 from a primary supply. t In the embodiment illustrated, this; supply .is shown .as. .1 comprising a conduit 128 connected at one end \to a con: tinuous air source (notillustrated) such as an, air coma. pressor and. at the otherxend to a vapontrap and mani: fold 130 mountedon the mahcine. Although .not illustrated, it is to be understood that conduits fromfltheq. vapor trap andumanifold 130 establishcommunication.

between the main supply conduit 128. and the control valves 44 and 26. It willalso be seen that thetvapon.

trap and manifold 130function, through1 conduitsof conventional nature, to supply air to the other control valves of the machine.

The structure thus fardescribed provides for the preliminary preparation of a carcass for tying by the machine 10. Specifically,.this structure is designedto effect orientation and compression of a carcass on the working support surface 16. and; direction of a lengthuof the.

thread 56 through the carcass. In the preferredform of this operation as practiced on the eviscerated carcass of i i a bird, such as a turkey, the bird is first placed on the surface 16 with its'back against the surface and, its

, legs extending towards the orienting plate 10.4,;tAn eviscerated bird, designated by the numeral 132; is illustrated, 1

in this condition in FIG. 3.. After the bird is so placed, it is manually forced against the plate 104at substantialstantially flushj withfits it tail end and the timed sequ operation of the machine 1y right angles Ilwitht respectthereto it and with sufiicient x force to P h thegends of gitsttlegs to a positioii su the subsequent relatively short.

The latter condition-responsive operation of the orientpressed against its body by the shoe and the cylinder 34 is activated to effect extension of the needles 50 and 52 through the body of the bird, movement of the shoe 100 to a position releasing. the legs is prevented. This results because ,pressure in the conduit 42 is released simultaneously with activation of the cylinder. 34 to .ex- ,1 tend the needles 50 and 52. Thus, upon extension of=the. needles, the piston 118= moves to a position closingthe} escape of incompressible.

conduit 78 and preventing the oil from the, cylinder. 76. J i

In summary, A the extension of the bird down; force. thetzle .to the opening 20.;

function is effected by a transfer shuttle mechanism supported on the carriage 84 for movement therewith. The

mechanism comprises: a pneumatically driven reversible motor 138; a shaft 140 driven. by the motor 138" and.

extending therefrom rotatably.through an aperture; 142. u in the plate 88, a slot 144 in the. plate 104 and an arcuatew 1 opening 146 inthe plate; 9.4; a crank148 keyedtto then 1 shaft140 forrotation therewithiinwthe opening 146;.tan

arm 150 pivotallyt secur ed at its upper end totheplate I. 94 for rotation about. an axis. parallel, to and vertically disposed above. the shaft 140; apin 152 carried by the crank 148 andaextending therefrom. into slidableIengage-H rnent with alongitudinally extending slot154 in .the -armv spool 156 secured totthe lower 150; and, athread pickup ,end of the arm 150. i

is triggered. JA" knee svvitch 134 (see F1632); is provided toytrigger this opratiomi This switchis electrically connectedto a drive motor 135 for the cam shaft which. operates; the bankfiof J 3 camoperated flswitches 46. Electrical "power is supplied to the switches *46 and. theyother electrically operated i ccmponents Of the .rnachine ywhich will be developed Ifin discussion through conventionalcircu y jwi leading to. a, rnain power supplyvand.switchbox 136 Upon triggering of the timedpsequence with a bird 132 positioned as illustrated in FIG. 3, the cylinder 'lfi is first activated to extend therodi 82 and the carriage 84 secured thereto towards the bird. As this occurs, the shoe; 100 engages andforces thewlegs of the bird into-com v pressed condition against its body. simultaneouslywitht this operatiomi the orienting plate 104 forces the hird away from the pedestal .70,as indicated by the arrow line in FIG. 5, to a predetermined position above them i opening 20. The degree to which the bird is thus movedw; is dependent upon its size, as measured. verticallyatitsw it tail portion when the bird is resting on the plate 16, sinner w engagementof the shoe 100 with the legs ,andwupper. portion of the bird limits thet degree to which theorienting plate 104 travels in the direction of the arrow line in FIG. 5. Specifically, when a small bird is encountered by the shoe 100, :thetravel path of the plate 104 inthe direction of thearrowrline in FIG. 5-is relatively long Whereas when a large birdis encountered, thispath. 1811 of the rod 82functions,-

through the shoe 100 and. plate 104; to; depress the dogs gs ofthe bird forwardly; t t press the hocks of the. bird firmly together; press the l e s a. ,of thebird againstitsbodygj anjdifposition the bird relative i After a bird has been orientedon the surface 116 and, the needles 50 and 52 have beentextended therethrough, thread is shuttledvfro m the openingtSS ofwthe needle t 50 intoengagement withwthe slot 60 oftheneedle 52;This

The end of the arm 150 carrying the spool 156 is bent so that, when the needles 50 and 52 are in the extended condition, the spool is disposed for movement with the arm in a path immediately adjacent the upper surfaces of the needles. This movement, as can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 9 and 10, is effected by the crank 148 responsive to its rotation by the motor 138. The path thus defined by movement of the spool 156 maintains a fixed orientation with respect to the opening 58 and slot 60 in the extended needles 50 and 52, respectively, regardless of the size of bird being handled. This results because the needles 50 and 52 are always stopped in a predetermined orientation relative to the plate 88 by the stops 90.

Operationof the transfer shuttle mechanism is controlled by selectively supplying air to the motor 138 through an electrically operable valve 158 (see FIG. 2). The valve 158 is supplied with air from a primary air source through the manifold 130 and is provided with conduits (not illustrated) extending to. communication with the motor 138. Selective activation of the valve 158 is effected in timed sequence with the balance of the machine by one of the bank of cam operated switches 46. 6

Upon activation of the motor 138 to'elfect movement of the spool 156 from the position shown in FIG. 9 to that shown in FIG. 10, the spool picks up the leading end of the thread 56 and directs it intoengagement with the slot 60 of theneedle 52. This operation is facilitated by a leaf spring .160 mounted on the plate 94 and extend ing over the opening 98 therein for the needle 52. The spring 160 is deflected by the arm 150 upon its movement to the position shown in FIG. 10 and, upon return of the arm to the position shown in FIG. 9, it functions to push the leading end of the thread against the needle 52 and into the slot 60 therein. During the entire thread directing operation of the machine 10, a continuous supply of thread 56. is suppliedfrom a reel162 mounted on of tension required to effect lengthwise withdrawal of thread from the reel.

It is here noted that the needles and 52 are positioned so that when extended they are disposed, respectively, laterally of the legs of a bird being handled. Thus, whenthe leading end of the thread 56 is directed from the needle 50 to the needle 52 by thetrausfer shuttle mechanism, it is traversed across both legs of the bird. With the thread so oriented, the machine is in condition for its next stage of operation, namely the lowering of the needles. This is effectedby activation of the aforedescribed cylinder 34 through the valve 44.

Upon lowering of the needles 50 and 52, the sleeve 62 slides to. a position over the slot 60, as illustrated in FIG. 13, under the influence of resistive force applied thereto as it is pulled through the bird being handled. Thus, the leading end of the thread 56 is retained against lateral displacement. from the slot 60. This assures that the leading end of the thread will be retained in the.

needle 52 as it is lowered. Thus, complete lowering of the needles-50 and 52 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 effects the formation of a generally U-shaped loop of thread across both legs of the bird being handled and through its body.

After the needles 50 and 52 have been lowered to'the comprises, in part, a cross-over shuttle 164 (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 18) supported on the surface 16 beneath the opening 20. The shuttle 164 comprises: a support bracket 166 bolted to the undersideof the surface 16; an annular bearing 168 fixedly supported on the bracket 166 in substantially coaxial alignment with the opening 20; a spacer 170 fixedly secured to and extending around the underside of the bracket 166 to define a chamber 172 therebelow; a lower annular bearing 174 fixed tr the space! 170 in coaxial alignment with the bearing 168 to define a lower wall for the chamber 172; an annular shuttle element 176 rotatably supported on the bearing 168 and having a sleeve 178 coaxially fixed thereto and extending through the bearings 168 and 174; a snap ring 180 received in a groove therefor in the sleeve 178 beneath the bearing 174 to secure the sleeve against axial. movement relative to the bearing while permitting rotation of the sleeve in the bearing; a first annular gear 182 keyed to the sleeve 178 forsupport thereby in the chamber 172; a second annular gear 184 supported beneath the surface 16 in meshing engagement with the gear 182 to effect selective driving thereof, said second gear extending through an opening therefor (not illustrated) in the spacer 170; a reversible pneumatic motor 186 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) secured to the underside of the surface 16 and having a drive shaft 188 coaxially keyed to. the. second gear. 184 to effect driving thereof; a pair of first stops 190 and 192 fixed relative to the surface 16 andextending downwardly therefrom in coaxial relationship relative to the shaft 188; and, a second stop 194 fixed to thegear .184 for abutment, respectively, with the stops 190 and 192t0 limit the are through which the gear 184 can turn. The pneumatic motor 186 for the.

crossover mechanism is selectively activated to effect I rotation of the shuttle element 176 in opposite directions by the operation of an electrically controlled. valve 196. The valve 196 operates, through conduits connected thereto, to selectively supply air from the manifold 130 to the motor 186. The valve 196 is electrically controlled in timed sequence with the other operations of the machine 10 by one of the bank of cam operated switches 46.

When theneedles 50 and 52 are first retracted to form a generally U-shaped loop of thread around a bird being handled, the cross-over shuttle assumes the condition illustrated in. FIG. 15.In this condition thread engaging hooks 198 and 200 carried on the periphery of the shuttle element 176 are positioned, as viewed in FIG. 15, in counterclockwise spaced relationship from the leading and trailing ends, respectively, of the loop of thread. The hooks 198 and 200 include leading threadengaging grip portions adapted, upon clockwise rotation of the elemen 176, to engage the leading and trailing ends of a loop of 7 around the turkey to the final crossed position illustrated in FIG. 17. FIG. 16 illustrates the operation of the shuttle element 176 and hooks 198and 200 thereon intermediate the crossing operation. Engagement of the stop 194 with the stops 190 and 192 limits movement of the shuttle element 176 to theopposite extremities illustrated in FIGS.

15 and 17, respectively.

. Once the leading and trailing end portions of a segment of thread extended around the bird are crossed, as.

illustrated in FIG. 17, these portions are secured together to efiect the formation of a closed loop extending around thebird. In the preferred embodiment of the machine illustrated, this securing function is effected simultaneously with cutting of the leading and trailing end portions extended condition functionsfrboth to .weld the crossed.

of the segment. Thus, the closed loop is severed from the axially continuous length of thread stored on the reel 162 and excess thread is removed from the leading end of the loop. As a result, a bird completely processed by the machine assumes the condition exemplified in FIG. 1. In this condition, a closed loop of thread, designated by the numeral 56a, having closely cut ends is secured tightly around the body and legs of the bird. It is here noted that the loop assumes a condition disposed at approximately a 60 angle with respect to the bird, thus drawing the legs forwardly relative to the body. 'For the sake of illustration, it may be assumed that the bird in FIG. 1 is the same bird designated by the numeral 132 in the figures of the drawings showing the machine in operation during the processing of a bird.

Securing and cutting of the crossed ends of the thread exemplified in FIG. 17 is effected through the employment of an ultrasonic welder incorporated into the machine for selective operation in cooperation with the crossover shuttle 164. The ultrasonic welder comprises, as its basic elements, a welding horn 202 mounted beneath the anvil 28 in axial alignment with the groove 30, raised cutting shoulders 204 and 206 integrally mounted on the horn 202 for mating engagement with the groove 30- upon raising of the horn, as will be developed subsequently; an ultrasonic transducer 208 secured to the lower end of the horn 202; an ultrasonic generator 210 supported on the surface 18 and connected to the transducer 208 by a cable 212; and a timer 214 controllably associated with the generator 210 to effect its activation responsive to the triggering of a limit switch 216 fixedly mounted to the table 12. In operation. each time the limit switch 216 IS triggered, the timer activates the generator 210 and thus, the welding horn 202, for a predetermined duration.

The welding from 202 is supported on the surface 18 for selective movement toward and away from the anvil 28. The structure providing for mounting of the horn comprises: a cylindrical :guide pedestal 218 fixedly mounted on the surface 18; a cylindrical guide sleeve 220 telescopically received over the pedestal 218 for slidable movement relative thereto; a double acting pneumatic cylinder 222 mounted on the surface 18 in parallel relationship with the guide sleeve 208, said cylinder having a piston rod 224 extending from the upper end thereof for selective extension and. retraction; a first strap 226 I rigidly interconnecting the guide sleeve 220' and the rod 224 to impart raising and lowering movement of the rod to the sleeve; and, second and third straps 228- and 230 rigidly interconnecting the guide sleeve 220 with the transducer 208 to impart raising and lowering movement of the guide sleeve to the transducer and the horn 202 sup ported thereon. Through the foregoing mounting arrangement, extension and retraction of the piston rod 224 effects, respectively,

raising and loweringofthe horn 202.

When raised, the horn assumes a position wherein the crossed ends of a thread therea'bove are clamped between its upper surface and the lower surface of the anvil 28.

In this position, the leading and trailing ends of the thread are clamped between the cutting shoulders 204 and 206, respectively; andthe groove30. As a result of this interrelationship, activation of the horn 202%}when infthe erance of the segment of thread forming the loop around the bird beinghandledvisprevented by the recessed portions between the cutting shoulders 204 and 206. These 1 portions are of sufficient depth to preventycutting of threads disposed thereabove when thewhorn 202 is raised 1; 1. and activated In order for theaforedescribed. welding and cutting to a material susceptible to ultrasonic Welding. techniques...

ofthe anvil 28. i U OVERALLXMACHINE OPERATION 1 i 1 t cylinder 76; the*switchkcntrollingthe needle cylinder 4; H H 65. mg ends, as diagrammatically illustrated: [REG/19. SeV-v a 11 In practice, a preferred thread has been found to be monofilament nylon line similar to the type typically used for fishing. This type of thread has ideal welding and strength characteristics and also is sufficiently heat resistant to withstand roasting temperatures typically used for the preparation of poultry. The latter characteristic is particularly advantageous, since it enables the ultimate consumer to leave the tie formed by the machine in place during roasting with assurance that the legs of the bird will not be released.

The final tying operation of the machine is also facilitated by a sleeve 232 loosely received over the horn 202 for movement therewith. The sleeve 232 is resiliently supported for limited movement relative to the horn 202 by an annular cushion ofrubber, or the like, interposed between its lower end and the strap 230. Through this provision and the proportioning of the sleeve so as to have its upper edge at a level slightly above the upper surface of the horn 202, the horn functions to clamp all four legs of the crossed thread, as exemplified in FIG. 17, between its upper surface and the lower surface of the anvil 28 when the horn 202 is raised. Thus, during the welding and cutting operation, the crossed ends of a thread are held against movement relative to each other. The resilient nature of the cushion supporting the sleeve 232, designated by numeral 234, substantially prevents the transmittal of ultrasonic vibration to the sleeve. This assures that the sleeve will not perform a cutting function on the thread engaged thereby.

Raising and lowering of the welding horn 202 and components secured thereto in timed sequence with the other operations of the machine 10 is effected through means of an electrically operated valve 236 controlled by oneof the bank of cam operated switches 46. The valve 236 is connected to a primary source of air through the manifold and has the conduits controlled thereby connected in fluid communication with opposite ends of the double acting pneumatic cylinder 222.

Attention is here invited to the fact that the operation of the cylinder 222, in effect, controls activation of the welding horn 202. Specifically, when the cylinder 222 is sion of overall machine operation, itwill be seen that th e duration of welder operation is less than the durationfor which the cylinder. 222.. is extended. This characteristic.

results in a period after actual welding when theuhorn holds the crossed ends The overall operation of thema chine is fully shown in the diagrammatic illustration of FIG. '20. ,This figure,

in eifect, representspthe. operation ofeach of the sixcan operated switches in1the bank ofswitches 46. This opera i tion is shown'intermsfof degrees ofcarn rotationrfifhe six switches diagrammecl in: FIQLQO comprise, re a from .top to bottomilthef sjwitcl controlling the hold-.d

the switch controlling the transferf sliuttle motor 138; switch .controlling the cross-ovenlshuttle motor. 186' switch controlling the welder cylinder 222; and, th off switch whichtiirlns off themachine for re activat the knee operated switch 134.

[From the legends on FIG. 20, the operationof ieach 1 of the switch controlleddevicesiis believed apparentiFor example, it can be seenthat the degree to which the .cy

inders 34 and 76 are extended is dependent upon the s ze} Pi ofearcass beinghandled;ltican also be seen thatwexte sion. of the: welder cylinder 222itriggersoperation of the? l of thread against the under surface switches and components controlled thereby are returned.

to the position at of-cam rotatiomThus, the machine, after 360 of cam rotation, is in the offcondition and ready to receive another carcass and manual triggering by the knee operated switch 134.

FIG. 20 also illustrates that, with the exception of placement of a carcass on the surface 16 in juxtaposed right angled relationship to the orienting plate 104 and trigger:

ing of the knee operated switcl1 134, all operations of the machine are automatic. This includes compensation of the hold-down andneedle operating structures (i.e,' those controlled by cylinders, 76 and 34, respectively) to compensate for carcasses ofdiiferent sizes. t

' From the foregoing detailed description, it is believed apparent that the present invention enables the attain ment of the objects initially set forth herein. It should also be apparent, that the sequential operations of'the method hereinbefore summarized are carried out as follows:

(1) Passing the needles 50 and 52 through the body of the bird being handled to carry the thread in the needle 50 through the bird laterally of one of its legs and dispose the needle 52 laterally of the other of its legs;

(2) Shuttling the leading end of the thread from the needle 50 to the needle 52 through the operation of the transfer shuttle mechanism to pass the thread over the bird;

(3) Retracting the needles 50 and 52 to draw the leading end of the thread through the bird with the needle 52 and, thus, form a generally U-shaped length of thread extending over the bird and through the body thereof in encompassing relationship to its legs, with the leading and trailing ends of the thread disposed beneath the body of the bird;

(4) Pulling the leading and trailing ends of the thread together into crossed relationship beneath the bird through the operation of the cross over shuttle 164; and

(5) Welding the crossed ends of the thread together through the operation of the welding horn 202 to form a closed loop of thread securing the legs of the bird against its body.

Simultaneously with the latter operation, the horn 202 functions to sever the loop of thread from the continuous source provided by the reel 162.

We claim:

1. A method for securing the legs of an eviscerated bird to the body thereof, comprising:

(a) disposing the bird against a support;

(b) forcing the legs of the bird against the body thereof;

(0) passing a thread through the body of the bird laterally of one of the legs thereof so that the leading end of said thread is to one side of the bird and the trailing end is to the other side of the bird;

(d) shuttling the leading end of said thread across the bird to a position laterally of the other of the legs thereof;

(e) passing the leading end of the thread through the body of the bird laterally of said other leg so that the leading and trailing ends of the thread are \both to said other side of the bird; and

(f) securing the leading and trailing ends of the thread together under tension to define a loop extending around the body and legs of the bird.

2. A method of trussing an eviscerated bird, comprising:

(a) passing a pair of needles through the body of the bird so as to dispose the legs of the bird between the needles, at least one of which needles carries an elongate length of thread therewith to direct the thread to a disposition extendingthroughthe body of the bird with the leading and trailing ends of the thread disposed to either side of the body;

(b) shuttling, the leading end of the ,threadfrom the one needle to engagement with the other to, extend the thread across one side of the body;

(0) retracting the needles to draw theth'read through the body of the bird with the other needle'and, thus,

side of the body as the trailing end of the thread;

and ,(d) securing the leading and trailing ends of the thread together under tension to forma loop securing the legs of the bird to its body.

3. A method according to claim 2 further comprising forcing the legs of the bird against its bodyprior to the passing of the needles therethrough and maintaining the legs in such a condition through the step of securing together of the leading and trailing ends of the thread.

4. A method oftrussing an eviscerated bird, comprising:

(a) translating a pair of needles from one side of the body of the bird to the side opposite said one side to a position wherein legs of the bird are disposed between the needles, at least one of which needles carries an elongate length of thread therewith to direct the thread to a disposition with the trailing end thereof to said one side and the leading end thereof to said opposite side;

(b) shuttling the leading end of the thread from the one needle to engagement with the other to extend the thread across said opposite side;

(0) translating the needles to draw the leading end of the thread to said one side and, thus, dispose both the leading and trailing ends of the thread to said one side with the portion of the thread intermediate said ends extending across said opposite side; and

(d) securing the leading and trailing ends of the thread together across said one side to form a loop securing the legs of the bird to its-body.

5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising forcing the legs of the bird against its body prior to the translating of the needles from one side of the body of the bird to the side opposite said one side and maintaining the legs in such a condition through the step of securing together of the leading and trailing ends of the thread.

6. A method of trussing an eviscerated bird, comprismg:

(a) disposing a pair of needles to one side of the body of the bird in a position wherein the legs of the bird are disposed therebetween, at least one of which needles carries an elongate length of thread having leading and trailing ends;

(b) shuttling the leading end of the thread from the one needle to engagement with the other to extend the thread across said one side of the body with the trailing end thereof carried by the one needle and the leading end thereof carried by the other needle;

(c) translating the needles to dispose the leading and trailing ends of the thread to the side of the body of the bird opposite said one side while maintaining the portion of the thread intermediate said ends in a position extending across said one side; and

(d) securing the leading and trailing ends of the thread together across said opposite side to form a loop securing the legs of the bird to its body.

7. method of trussing an eviscerated bird, comprising:

(a) disposing a pair of needles to one side of the body of the bird in a position wherein the legs of the bird are disposed therebetween, at least one of which needles carries an elongate length of thread having a leading end disposed to said one side and a trailing extend the leading endrof the thread to the same i 13 end disposed to the side of the bird opposite said one side;

(b) shuttling the leading end of the thread from the one needle to engagement With the other to extend the thread across said one side of the body;

(c) translating said other needle to direct the leading end of the thread to said opposite side and thus dispose both ends to said side with the portion of the thread between said ends extending across said one side; and

(d) securing the leading and trailing ends of the thread t together across said opposite side to form a loop securing the legs of the bird to its body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LUCIE H. LAUDENSLAGER, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 

